Armenian News... A Topalian... Peter Balakian Pulitzer Prize
Syracuse.com, NY
April 18 2016
Colgate University professor wins Pulitzer Prize for poetry
By Elizabeth Doran ,The Post-Standard
Colgate University professor Peter Balakian has won the Pulitzer Prize
for poetry, according to the 2016 Pulitzer Prize winners website.
Balakian's "Ozone Journal" won the prize.
The Pulitzer board said Balakian's poems "bear witness to the old
losses and tragedies that undergird a global age of danger and
uncertainty."
Balakian teaches Humanities and English at Colgate, and is the author
of seven books of poems and four prose works. "Black Dog of Fate," a
memoir, won the PEN/Albrand Prize.
The title poem of Balakian's Ozone Journal is a sequence of fifty-four
short sections, each a poem in itself, recounting the speaker's memory
of excavating the bones of Armenian genocide victims in the Syrian
desert with a crew of television journalists in 2009, according to
Amazon.com.
Colgate University tweeted congratulations to Balakian:
Born and raised in Teaneck and Tenafly, NJ, Balakian holds a
bachelor's degree from Bucknell University and a Ph.D. in American
civilization from Brown University.
He is the director of creative writing at Colgate, and has taught at
Colgate since 1980.
armradio.am
Tigran Hamasyan wins ECHO Jazz Award 2016
19 Apr 2016
Siranush Ghazanchyan
Tigran Hamasyan has been named winners of ECHO Jazz 2016 Awards.
Tigran Hamasyan was named International Instrumentalist of the Year,
Piano, for his Nonesuch Records debut album, Mockroot.
The ECHO Jazz awards are conferred by the Deutsche Phono-Akademie
(German Recording Academy), akin to the Grammy Awards in the United
States.
The organization has handed out the ECHO Music awards annually since
1992 and the ECHO Classic awards since 1994. The ECHO Jazz prizes are
the latest addition, having launched in 2010, when Bill Frisell
received the inaugural award for International Instrumentalist of the
Year, Guitar.
The ECHO Jazz 2016 Awards ceremony will take place at Kampnagel in
Hamburg on Thursday, May 26.
19 Apr 2016
Siranush Ghazanchyan
Tigran Hamasyan has been named winners of ECHO Jazz 2016 Awards.
Tigran Hamasyan was named International Instrumentalist of the Year,
Piano, for his Nonesuch Records debut album, Mockroot.
The ECHO Jazz awards are conferred by the Deutsche Phono-Akademie
(German Recording Academy), akin to the Grammy Awards in the United
States.
The organization has handed out the ECHO Music awards annually since
1992 and the ECHO Classic awards since 1994. The ECHO Jazz prizes are
the latest addition, having launched in 2010, when Bill Frisell
received the inaugural award for International Instrumentalist of the
Year, Guitar.
The ECHO Jazz 2016 Awards ceremony will take place at Kampnagel in
Hamburg on Thursday, May 26.
a1plus.am
NKR MoD: Intensive violation of ceasefire in the direction of
Hadrut, Martakert and Akna
April 21,2016
Press service of the Ministry of Defense of the NKR informs on April
20-21 overnight the operative situation on the Contact Line between
the armed forces of Karabakh and Azerbaijan remained unchanged.
The adversary violated the ceasefire more than 70 times firing from
weapons of different caliber along the entire front line.
More intensive violations were registered in the southeastern
(Hadrut), eastern (Akna) and northeastern (Martakert) directions.
In addition to the rifle weapons in the northeastern direction the
adversary also used 60 mm mortar (2 shells) and HAN-17 grenade
launcher (2 shells).
The DA vanguard units keep the state border under control and resort
to appropriate actions.
Press service of the Ministry of Defense of the NKR informs on April
20-21 overnight the operative situation on the Contact Line between
the armed forces of Karabakh and Azerbaijan remained unchanged.
The adversary violated the ceasefire more than 70 times firing from
weapons of different caliber along the entire front line.
More intensive violations were registered in the southeastern
(Hadrut), eastern (Akna) and northeastern (Martakert) directions.
In addition to the rifle weapons in the northeastern direction the
adversary also used 60 mm mortar (2 shells) and HAN-17 grenade
launcher (2 shells).
The DA vanguard units keep the state border under control and resort
to appropriate actions.
RFE/RL Report
No Quick Fix For Karabakh Conflict, Says Yerevan
Sargis Harutyunyan
20.04.2016
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is unlikely to be resolved anytime
soon after its worst escalation in over two decades, a senior
representative of President Serzh Sarkisian's Republican Party of
Armenia (HHK) said on Wednesday.
Armen Ashotian, an HHK deputy chairman, also made clear that
representative of President Serzh Sarkisian's Republican Party of
Armenia (HHK) said on Wednesday.
Armen Ashotian, an HHK deputy chairman, also made clear that
Russia cannot unilaterally impose any peace accords on the conflicting
parties without the backing of the two other mediating powers: the
United States and France.
"The four-day [in Karabakh] war reaffirmed Russia's geopolitical
influence in the region," Ashotian told RFE/RL's Armenian service
(Azatutyun.am). "But the fact is that the [OSCE] Minsk Group and
especially two of its three co-chairs, France and the United States,
would never agree to any variant of the conflict's settlement what
would solely stem from Russia's vision."
The remarks came ahead of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov visit
to the region aimed at bolstering the ceasefire and reviving the
protracted search for a compromise solution to the
Armenian-Azerbaijani dispute. Lavrov will arrive in Yerevan on
Thursday.
parties without the backing of the two other mediating powers: the
United States and France.
"The four-day [in Karabakh] war reaffirmed Russia's geopolitical
influence in the region," Ashotian told RFE/RL's Armenian service
(Azatutyun.am). "But the fact is that the [OSCE] Minsk Group and
especially two of its three co-chairs, France and the United States,
would never agree to any variant of the conflict's settlement what
would solely stem from Russia's vision."
The remarks came ahead of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov visit
to the region aimed at bolstering the ceasefire and reviving the
protracted search for a compromise solution to the
Armenian-Azerbaijani dispute. Lavrov will arrive in Yerevan on
Thursday.
Two leading Russian dailies reported this week that President Vladimir
Putin has personally initiated a new Russian push for a Karabakh
settlement after Moscow helped to stop heavy fighting along the
Karabakh "line of contact" that broke out on April 2. They said Lavrov
will press Baku and Yerevan to accept peace proposals based on the
Basic Principles of a Karabakh settlement drafted by the Russian,
U.S. and French co-chairs of Minsk Group.
Ashotian, who is in charge of the ruling party's foreign relations,
cautioned against excessive expectations from the Russian mediation,
saying that Azerbaijan further complicated a peaceful settlement with
its military offensive in Karabakh.
"It's evident that after the four-day war, it would be untimely to
speak of a quick diplomatic solution to the Karabakh problem because a
key prerequisite for that is a restoration of trust," he said. "Even
before this four-day war, Azerbaijan always violated the ceasefire and
lost our trust. And it will take time to restore that trust, if it
ever existed."
"With the four-day war, Azerbaijan nullified what little diplomatic
trust we might have had in it," Ashotian went on. "Therefore, I don't
think that international efforts to resolve the Karabakh conflict can
reach a successful conclusion in the foreseeable period."
The Basic Principles, repeatedly modified in the past decade, call for
a phased resolution of the conflict that would end in a referendum on
Karabakh's internationally recognized status. Such a vote would be
held years after Armenian withdrawal from districts around the
disputed territory that were fully or partly occupied by Karabakh
Armenian forces during the 1991-1994 war.
Ashotian stressed that the Armenian side will never compromise on the
Karabakh Armenians' right to self-determination and "international
security guarantees" sought by them.
In their public statements, President Ilham Aliyev and other
Azerbaijani leaders have repeatedly rejected any peace accord that
would stop short of restoring Azerbaijani control over Karabakh and
the surrounding Armenian-controlled districts.
Putin has personally initiated a new Russian push for a Karabakh
settlement after Moscow helped to stop heavy fighting along the
Karabakh "line of contact" that broke out on April 2. They said Lavrov
will press Baku and Yerevan to accept peace proposals based on the
Basic Principles of a Karabakh settlement drafted by the Russian,
U.S. and French co-chairs of Minsk Group.
Ashotian, who is in charge of the ruling party's foreign relations,
cautioned against excessive expectations from the Russian mediation,
saying that Azerbaijan further complicated a peaceful settlement with
its military offensive in Karabakh.
"It's evident that after the four-day war, it would be untimely to
speak of a quick diplomatic solution to the Karabakh problem because a
key prerequisite for that is a restoration of trust," he said. "Even
before this four-day war, Azerbaijan always violated the ceasefire and
lost our trust. And it will take time to restore that trust, if it
ever existed."
"With the four-day war, Azerbaijan nullified what little diplomatic
trust we might have had in it," Ashotian went on. "Therefore, I don't
think that international efforts to resolve the Karabakh conflict can
reach a successful conclusion in the foreseeable period."
The Basic Principles, repeatedly modified in the past decade, call for
a phased resolution of the conflict that would end in a referendum on
Karabakh's internationally recognized status. Such a vote would be
held years after Armenian withdrawal from districts around the
disputed territory that were fully or partly occupied by Karabakh
Armenian forces during the 1991-1994 war.
Ashotian stressed that the Armenian side will never compromise on the
Karabakh Armenians' right to self-determination and "international
security guarantees" sought by them.
In their public statements, President Ilham Aliyev and other
Azerbaijani leaders have repeatedly rejected any peace accord that
would stop short of restoring Azerbaijani control over Karabakh and
the surrounding Armenian-controlled districts.
armenpress.am
Ireland should recognize Armenian Genocide:
“An Irishman’s Diary” published in Irish Times
19 April, 2016
YEREVAN, APRIL 19. April 24th, 1916, was the foundation
moment of an Irish State. At the opposite end of Europe, what Pope
Francis has described as “the first genocide of the 20th century”
began in Constantinople on April 24th, 1915, “Armenpress” reports, The
Irish Times periodical publishes an article entitled “An Irishman’s
Diary on the Armenian Genocide”.
The author of the article Brendan Ó Cathaoir writes that Turkification
policy cost the lives of more than half of the Armenians living in the
Ottoman Empire. Hundreds of thousands of people died along the way, of
starvation and disease, and from attacks by brigands and death squads.
Later the leader of Germany Hitler told his generals what happened
with Armenians stating: “Who speaks today of the annihilation of the
Armenians?” He was trying with such means to tell his generals that
they would have the same impunity allowed to the Turkish government
for what had befallen the Armenians.
The author writes that today Turkey threatens to close air bases to
countries such as the US and the Great Britain if they use the
“G-word”.
“Armenia was the first country to adopt Christianity as its official
religion. Armenians mourn not only the genocide but also the loss of a
cultural heritage accumulated over 3,000 years of recorded history. As
a measure of restorative justice, Ireland should join the 20 national
parliaments that recognize this crime against humanity as genocide”,
the author concluded.
asbarez.com
YEREVAN, APRIL 19. April 24th, 1916, was the foundation
moment of an Irish State. At the opposite end of Europe, what Pope
Francis has described as “the first genocide of the 20th century”
began in Constantinople on April 24th, 1915, “Armenpress” reports, The
Irish Times periodical publishes an article entitled “An Irishman’s
Diary on the Armenian Genocide”.
The author of the article Brendan Ó Cathaoir writes that Turkification
policy cost the lives of more than half of the Armenians living in the
Ottoman Empire. Hundreds of thousands of people died along the way, of
starvation and disease, and from attacks by brigands and death squads.
Later the leader of Germany Hitler told his generals what happened
with Armenians stating: “Who speaks today of the annihilation of the
Armenians?” He was trying with such means to tell his generals that
they would have the same impunity allowed to the Turkish government
for what had befallen the Armenians.
The author writes that today Turkey threatens to close air bases to
countries such as the US and the Great Britain if they use the
“G-word”.
“Armenia was the first country to adopt Christianity as its official
religion. Armenians mourn not only the genocide but also the loss of a
cultural heritage accumulated over 3,000 years of recorded history. As
a measure of restorative justice, Ireland should join the 20 national
parliaments that recognize this crime against humanity as genocide”,
the author concluded.
asbarez.com
Erdogan’s Administration Says Will Never Recognize Armenian
Genocide
20/4/16
BAKU (Trend News Agency)—Turkey will never recognize the events of
1915 as genocide, the Turkish presidential administration said in an
interview published on Wednesday.
“Therefore, Ankara does not attach any importance to the European
Parliament’s appeal to recognize the events of 1915 as the so-called
Armenian genocide,” the administration said.
The administration said that the European Parliament’s appeal to
Turkey is provocative.
“Turkey has repeatedly stated that it is ready to establish a joint
commission to investigate the events of 1915, but the Armenian side
ignores this proposal,” the administration said.
“This testifies to the fact that there is no evidence that the
so-called genocide was carried out against the Armenians in 1915,” the
administration added.
On April 14, the European Parliament called on Turkey to recognize the
events of 1915 as the “Genocide.”
While commenting on the European Parliament’s actions, Volkan Bozkir,
Turkey’s minister for European Union affairs said that this demand was
groundless.
arka.am
Poverty reduction and income growth in Armenia likely to stagnate
during 2017-18, World Bank update
YEREVAN, April 19. Poverty reduction and income growth across
all levels of the welfare distribution in Armenia are likely to
stagnate during 2017-18, the World Bank says in its April economic
update, entitled ‘Impact of China on Europe and Central Asia.’
It says even under an optimistic scenario—the agricultural sector
continues to perform well and remittance inflows recover—without
substantial improvements in the business environment and the domestic
labor market the poverty rate is projected to fall only gradually to
23.8 percent in 2018.
The elimination of temporary electricity subsidies, scheduled in
August 2016, would negatively affect poor households, whose
expenditure of electricity amounts to more than 5 percent of total
consumption.
Falling remittances and weak domestic labor market conditions slowed
progress on poverty reduction. The poverty rate (measured at
US$2.5/day) fell from 26.3 percent in 2014 to an estimated 25.6
percent in 2015. Lower remittance inflows have translated into welfare
losses for all households.
Despite strong agricultural growth, the domestic labor market
deteriorated due to limited job creation in other sectors compounded
by the largescale return of migrant workers from Russia. The
unemployment rate rose from 17.5 percent in Q3 2014 to 18.2 percent in
Q3 2015.
The World Bank says also growth is projected to slow to 1.9 percent in
2016, on the back of continued weaknesses in the external conditions
and fiscal tightening. With the recovery of the global economy,
including metal prices, Armenia’s growth is expected to pick up over
the medium term, but only moderately to about 3 percent a year,
hampered by structural weaknesses. The budget deficit is projected to
remain wide in 2016, at 3.9 percent of GDP, despite fiscal tightening
through a combination of revenue raising measures and moderate
expenditure cuts.
The fiscal position is expected to improve over time, as the stimulus
measures are phased out and an economic recovery boosts revenue
collection.
According to Armenia’s National Statistical Service, the poverty rate
grew to 30% in 2014 from 27.6% in 2008. At the same time, the poverty
rate in 2014 declined by 2 percentage points from the previous year.
The number of poor in 2014 among the resident population was estimated
at 900 thousand people, the number of very poor – at 330 thousand
people, and those rated as extremely poor – at 70 thousand people.
Thus, 36.6% of the poor population were very poor and 7.7% -
extremely poor.
20/4/16
BAKU (Trend News Agency)—Turkey will never recognize the events of
1915 as genocide, the Turkish presidential administration said in an
interview published on Wednesday.
“Therefore, Ankara does not attach any importance to the European
Parliament’s appeal to recognize the events of 1915 as the so-called
Armenian genocide,” the administration said.
The administration said that the European Parliament’s appeal to
Turkey is provocative.
“Turkey has repeatedly stated that it is ready to establish a joint
commission to investigate the events of 1915, but the Armenian side
ignores this proposal,” the administration said.
“This testifies to the fact that there is no evidence that the
so-called genocide was carried out against the Armenians in 1915,” the
administration added.
On April 14, the European Parliament called on Turkey to recognize the
events of 1915 as the “Genocide.”
While commenting on the European Parliament’s actions, Volkan Bozkir,
Turkey’s minister for European Union affairs said that this demand was
groundless.
arka.am
Poverty reduction and income growth in Armenia likely to stagnate
during 2017-18, World Bank update
YEREVAN, April 19. Poverty reduction and income growth across
all levels of the welfare distribution in Armenia are likely to
stagnate during 2017-18, the World Bank says in its April economic
update, entitled ‘Impact of China on Europe and Central Asia.’
It says even under an optimistic scenario—the agricultural sector
continues to perform well and remittance inflows recover—without
substantial improvements in the business environment and the domestic
labor market the poverty rate is projected to fall only gradually to
23.8 percent in 2018.
The elimination of temporary electricity subsidies, scheduled in
August 2016, would negatively affect poor households, whose
expenditure of electricity amounts to more than 5 percent of total
consumption.
Falling remittances and weak domestic labor market conditions slowed
progress on poverty reduction. The poverty rate (measured at
US$2.5/day) fell from 26.3 percent in 2014 to an estimated 25.6
percent in 2015. Lower remittance inflows have translated into welfare
losses for all households.
Despite strong agricultural growth, the domestic labor market
deteriorated due to limited job creation in other sectors compounded
by the largescale return of migrant workers from Russia. The
unemployment rate rose from 17.5 percent in Q3 2014 to 18.2 percent in
Q3 2015.
The World Bank says also growth is projected to slow to 1.9 percent in
2016, on the back of continued weaknesses in the external conditions
and fiscal tightening. With the recovery of the global economy,
including metal prices, Armenia’s growth is expected to pick up over
the medium term, but only moderately to about 3 percent a year,
hampered by structural weaknesses. The budget deficit is projected to
remain wide in 2016, at 3.9 percent of GDP, despite fiscal tightening
through a combination of revenue raising measures and moderate
expenditure cuts.
The fiscal position is expected to improve over time, as the stimulus
measures are phased out and an economic recovery boosts revenue
collection.
According to Armenia’s National Statistical Service, the poverty rate
grew to 30% in 2014 from 27.6% in 2008. At the same time, the poverty
rate in 2014 declined by 2 percentage points from the previous year.
The number of poor in 2014 among the resident population was estimated
at 900 thousand people, the number of very poor – at 330 thousand
people, and those rated as extremely poor – at 70 thousand people.
Thus, 36.6% of the poor population were very poor and 7.7% -
extremely poor.
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